Vehicle body door lock

ABSTRACT

A vehicle body door lock includes a conventional push button outside door handle assembly and a conventional bolt and detent. The control system for the detent is located entirely within the handle and includes a rotatable drum having a cam surface engageable by the push rod to rotate the drum against a spring bias. A shift cam is slidable diametrically of the drum and rotatable therewith. Sliding movement of the cam is effected by a shift lever connected to the garnish button and key cylinder. An unlatching arm is connected to the detent and includes a pin received within a contoured and shouldered slot of the shift cam. The pin freewheels within the slot when the shift lever slides the shift cam relative to the drum to uncoupled position. This disconnects the push button and unlatching arm. The pin engages a shoulder of the slot to rotate the unlatching arm with the shift cam and drum and release the detent when the shift cam is moved to coupled position relative to the drum. The pin can also engage a contoured edge of the slot or freewheel within the slot to respectively automatically undog or keyless lock.

United States Patent Meyer Mar. 14, 1972 [54] VEHICLE BODY DOOR LOCK [72] Inventor: Barthold F. Meyer, Mt. Clemens, Mich.

[73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation, Detroit,. Mich.

[22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 81,368

[52] US. Cl ....292/336.3, 292/DIG. 27, 292/DIG. 37 [51] Int. Cl ..E05b 3/00 Field ofSearch ..292/l I9, 127, 135, 166,168,

292/174, 221, 227, 237, DIG. 25, DIG. 23, BK}. 26, DIG. 27, 336.3, DIG. 37, 2X6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587,583 3/1952 Allen ..292/2l6 2,608,420 8/1952 Allen ..292/2l6 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attomey-W. E. Finken and Herbert Furman [57] ABSTRACT A vehicle body door lock includes a conventional push button outside door handle assembly and a conventional bolt and detent. The control system for the detent is located entirely within the handle and includes a rotatable drum having a cam surface engageable by the push rod to rotate the drum against a spring bias. A shift cam is slidable diametrically of the drum and rotatable therewith. Sliding movement of the cam is effected by a shift lever connected to the garnish button and key cylinder. An unlatching arm is connected to the detent and includes a pin received within a contoured and shouldered slot of the shift cam. The pin freewheels within the slot when the shift lever slides the shift cam relative to the drum to uncoupled position. This disconnects the push button and unlatching arm. The pin engages a shoulder of the slot to rotate the unlatching am with the shift cam and drum and release the detent when the shift cam is moved to coupled position relative I to the drum. The pin can also engage a contoured edge of the slot or freewheel within the slot to respectively automatically undog or keyless lock.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Ptented March 14, 1972 3,649,061

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

A? BY Mid/f/Wqyer ATTORNEY Patented March 14, 1972 3,649,061

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATToRA/Ei VEHICLE BODY noon LOCK This invention relates generally to vehicle body door locks and more particularly to a vehicle body door lock wherein the control arrangement for the latching functions is remote from the latching structure. 1

The door lock of this invention includes a conventional outside pushbutton-type door handle assembly and a conventional bolt and detent. However, it differs from conventional locks by having the control arrangement controlling release of the detent from the bolt, keyless locking, and automatic undogging located entirely within the outside door handle. Thus the control arrangement is entirely remote from the latching structure.

Conventionally, the control arrangement of the lock is integrated with the latching structure. However, in certain instances due to space requirements, it is desirable to reduce the latching structure to a minimum and'to locate the control arrangement remote from this lock structure. The door lock of this invention accomplishes this purpose in a very simple and expeditious manner and through the use of a minimum number of parts which are of a size so as to be located within a conventional pushbutton door handle assembly.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an unlatching arm is rotatable about a predetermined fixed axis to either release the detent and permit the door to be opened or to be rotated by the detent when the door is closed. A shift lever controls the connection and disconnection of the unlatching arm and a shift cam. The shift cam is rotatable with but movable independently of a drum which converts the linear motion of the pushbutton into rotary motion. The shift lever is under the control of the conventional key cylinder and garnish button. Movement of the shift cam relative to the drum to coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the unlatching arm effects release of the detent from the bolt, automatic undogging, and keyless locking.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle body door lock wherein the control arrangement for the latching structure is remotely located therefrom and incorporated within a conventional outside pushbutton door handle assembly.

This and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a portion of a vehicle body door having a conventional pushbutton outside door handle assembly mounted thereon and embodying a control arrangement according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially broken away view of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the control arrangement of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the control arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the control arrangement releasing the detent from the bolt to permit the door to be opened; and

FIG. 5 is a view showing the control arrangement in a position wherein the outside pushbutton freewheels.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a conventional vehicle body door includes an outer panel 12 on which is mounted a conventional pushbutton door handle assembly 14.

The door handle assembly 14 includes a handle portion 16 which is adapted to be grasped by the operator and an enlarged end portion 18 which embodies a conventional manually operated pushbutton 20.

As shown in the remaining Figures, the end portion 18 includes an outwardly opening generally rectangularly shaped cavity 22 which slidably receives a like shaped pushbutton 20. A coil compression spring 24 slidably surrounds the push rod 26 which is secured to the button 20. Spring 24 seats between the outer surface of the base wall 28 of the cavity 22 and the button to bias the button 20 outwardly of the cavity 22 to its normal position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. A pin 30 through the rod 26 engages the inner surface of wall 28 to limit outward movement of the button 20. Wall 28 also provides in part the base wall 32 of a cylindrically shaped cavity 34 opening inwardly of the end portion 18 of the handle. A shaft 36 has its outer shouldered end rotatably journaled within wall 28 and its inner end rotatably joumaled in a circular shouldered cover plate 38 which seats within the opening of cavity 34 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner.

A drum cam 40 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 36. The cam includes an outwardly opening cylindrical bore 42 and a coil torsion spring 44 freely surrounds the shaft 36 within the bore 42. One end of the spring conventionally engages a shoulder of bore 42, not shown, and the other end is anchored within an aperture of wall 28, as shown, to bias the cam 40 counterclockwise. The cam 40 includes an axially extending shoulder 46 which merges into a circumferentially extending shoulder 48 joined to a radially and axially extending arcuate cam shoulder 50. When the cam 40 is in its normal unactuated position, FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the inner free end of the push rod 26 engages the shoulder 50 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to locate the cam 40 against the action of the spring 44.

The inner axial face of the cam 40 includes a spaced aligned pair of diametrically extending ribs 52. The ribs 52 slidably receive like grooves 54 of a shift cam 56 to thereby mount the shift cam on the drum for rotation therewith and independent movement radially thereof. The diametrical extent of the ribs 52 is less than that of the grooves 54 to permit radial movement of the shift cam relative to the drum. The central enlarged opening 58 of the shift cam is joumaled on the annular hub 60 of a shift lever 62. Hub 60 includes a slot 63 which receives the shaft 36. The shift lever 62 is pivoted in a conventional manner to the lateral end of a garnish rod 64 which is secured to a conventional garnish button 66. The lateral end of the rod 64 slidably receives the slotted end of a link 68 which is conventionally coupled to a conventional outside key cylinder assembly 70 mounted on the outer panel 12 of the door 10 as shown in FIG. 1. As best shown in FIGS.'3, 4, and 5, hub 60 includes a radial extension 72 provided with an inwardly opening cylindrical bore 74. Bore 74 rotatably receives a pin 76 secured to the cover plate 38 to thereby rotatably mount or fulcrum the shift lever 62 on the cover plate for movement relative to the shaft 36. Slot 63 is of sufficient width to permit movement of the shift lever relative to the shaft.

The garnish button 66 is shown in unlocked position in FIGS. 3 and 4 and can be moved downwardly to locked position shown in FIG. 5 independently of any movement of the link 68. However, operation of the key cylinder 70 from unlocked position shown in FIG. 3 to locked position, not shown, shifts link 68 downwardly and will move the garnish button downwardly to locked position if it is in unlocked position. Alternatively, the garnish button 66 can be moved upwardly to unlocked position regardless of the position of the key cylinder assembly, but movement of the key cylinder assembly to unlocked position will always move the garnish button 66 upwardly to unlocked position.

A detent control or unlatching arm 78 is fixed to the shaft 36 adjacent the cover plate 38 and coupled by a rod 80 with the detent of a conventional bolt and detent, not shown. Such bolt and detent may be located anywhere desired within the door 10 for latching and unlatching movement of the bolt with respect to a conventional striker mounted on an adjacent door pillar.

The unlatching arm 78 includes a lateral pin 82 which is received within a contoured slot 84 of the shift cam 56, as will be further explained. A remote lever 86 is secured to the shaft 36 in a predetermined angular relationship to the arm 78 and includes a pin 88 which is slidably received in an arcuate slot 90 of a remote link 92. The remote link is conventionally coupled to an inside remote handle, not shown.

When the door is in closed position, the garnish button 66 is v in unlocked position or upwardly with respect to the door, and

arcuate edge portions 96 and 98 which are generated about the axis of shaft 36. If the operator pushes on the button 20 or moves it inwardly of the cavity 22 from its position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to its position shown in FIG. 4, the engagement of the free end of the push rod 26 with the contoured shoulder 50 will rotate the drum 40 clockwise from its FIG. 3 position to its position shown in FIG. 4. This clockwise movement of the drum 40 will be against the bias of spring 44 and will be limited in extent by the engagement of the push rod 26 with shoulder 46, as shown in FIG. 4. Since the shift cam 56 is rotatively coupled to the drum by ribs 52 and grooves 54, the cam 56 will likewise rotate clockwise from its FIG. 3 position to its FIG. 4 position. The engagement of shoulder 94 with pin 82 will swing arm 78 clockwise from its FIG. 3 position to its FIG. 4 position to shift rod 80 and thereby release the detent from the bolt to permit the door to be opened. The shift lever 62 remains stationary while the remote lever 86 rotates with the arm 78 and shaft 36 relative to link 92 as pin 88 moves within slot 90.

Upon release of the pushbutton 20, the combined action of springs 24 and 44 and the detent spring will return the pushbutton 20 from its FIG. 4 position to its position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and likewise return the drum 40, shift cam 56, arm 78, and lever 86 to their positions as shown therein. When the door is later moved from its now open position to closed position, the ratcheting movement of the detent with respect to the bolt will move pin 82 counterclockwise of shoulder 94 and adjacent and relative to edge portion 98. Pin 82 will return into engagement with the shoulder 94 when the bolt reaches latched position.

If either the garnish button 66 or key cylinder 70 is moved from unlocked position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 to locked position, shown in FIG. 5, the shift lever 62 will be rotated slightly clockwise. Since the shift lever is fulcrumed on the cover plate 38, the rotational movement of the shift lever will move the shift cam 56 downwardly from its FIG. 3 position to its FIG. 5 position due to the journaling of the shift cam on hub 60. Pin 82 is now located out of engagement with the shoulder 90 and immediately thereabove adjacent the edge portion 96 of the slot. It can be seen that any subsequent movement of the pushbutton 20, as previously described, will merely result in freewheeling of the pushbutton and of the pin 82 adjacent and relative to edge portion 98 so that the detent remains engaged with the bolt. The position of the shift cam shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be termed its coupled position since it connects or couples the pushbutton 20 and arm 78 in this position. Likewise the position of the shift cam shown in FIG. 5 may be termed its uncoupled position since it disconnects or uncouples the pushbutton 20 and arm 78 in this position.

The control arrangement of this invention also provides the features of automatic undogging and keyless locking.

Assume now that the door is in an open position and that either the garnish button 66 or the key cylinder 70 has been operated to locate the shift cam 56 in its uncoupled position shown in FIG. 5 wherein the pin 82 is located out of engagement with the shoulder 94 as previously described. If the door is thereafter closed, the ratcheting movement of the detent with respect to the bolt will shift the rod 80 to the left and in turn rotate the unlatching arm 78 in a clockwise direction. As the pin 82 moves clockwise within the slot 84, it will engage a cam edge portion 100 of the slot which is formed about a center other than the center of shaft 36 and shift the shift cam 54 upwardly from its uncoupled FIG. 5 position to its coupled position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Pin 82 will now be located adjacent the edge portion 98 and will engage the shoulder 94 when the door is closed. Thus, automatic undogging will occur.

Keyless locking is accomplished by depressing the button 20 as the door is closed. This will rotate the shift cam 56 in a clockwise direction so that edge portion 96 will move relative to pin 82 and the pin will be located adjacent the right-hand closed end 102 of slot 84. End 102 merges into an edge portion 104 of slot 84 which is formed about the axis of shaft 36, as edge portion 96, and merges into edge portion 100. Thus when the pin 82 moves clockwise upon ratcheting of the detent relative to the bolt, it moves between edge portions 96 and 104 and no movement of the shift cam will occur. It will thus remain in its uncoupled position shown in FIG. 5 when the door is completely closed so that the unlatching arm 78 will remain uncoupled from the shift cam.

It is believed evident that the inside remote handle can be actuated to shift link 92 to the right as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 to rotate arm 78 clockwise and release the detent. This movement of the remote handle is independent of the position of the shift cam.

Thus this invention provides an improved vehicle body door lock having a control arrangement remote from the latching structure.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for moving the detent means to released position, coupling means located within the door handle assembly for selectively coupling and uncoupling the detent control means and the pushbutton, and means remote from the door handle assembly and operatively connected to the coupling means for actuation thereof.

2. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means rotatably mounted within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for moving the detent means to released position, means within the door handle assembly converting the reciprocal pushbutton motion to rotary motion, and means located within the door handle assembly for selectively coupling the detent control means and the motion converting means.

3. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, means located within the door handle assembly for selectively coupling the detent control means and the pushbutton to move the detent means to released position upon movement of the pushbutton, and means located within the door handle assembly for selectively uncoupling the detent control means and the pushbutton upon movement of the detent control means by the detent means.

4. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, movable coupling means located within the door handle assembly, means operatively connecting the coupling means to the pushbutton for movement therewith and movement independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent control means, the detent control means and coupling means being movable as a unit upon movement of the coupling means in coupled position by the pushbutton.

5. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, movable coupling means located within the door handle assembly, means operatively connecting the coupling means to the pushbutton for movement of the coupling means upon movement of the pushbutton and movement of the coupling means between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent control means independently of movement of the pushbutton, and cooperating means on the detent control means and coupling means engageable with each other upon movement of the coupling means in coupled position by the pushbutton to move the control means with the coupling means and move the detent means to released position.

6. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means rotatably located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, means rotatably mounted within the door handle assembly and operatively connected to the pushbutton for rotational movement upon reciprocal movement of the pushbutton, coupling means located within the door handle assembly, means mounting the coupling means on the rotatable means for rotational movement therewith and radial movement independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent control means, and cooperating means on the detent control means and coupling means engageable with each other upon rotational movement of the coupling means in coupled position by the pushbutton to rotate the control means and move the detent means to detented position.

7. in combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between hol;ing and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means rotatably located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, means rotatably mounted within the door handle assembly and operatively connected to the pushbutton for rotational movement upon reciprocal movement of the pushbutton, coupling means located within the door handle assembly, means mounting the coupling means on the rotatable means for rotational movement therewith and radial shifting movement independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent control means, shifting means for moving the coupling means between coupled and uncoupled positions and radially locating the coupling means on the rotatable means, and cooperating means on the detent control means and coupling means engageable with each other upon rotational movement of the coupling means in coupled position by the pushbutton to rotate the control means and move the detent means to detented position.

8. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, a shaft rotatably mounted within the handle detent control means secured to the shaft and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, cam means rotatably mounted on the shaft and engageable by the pushbutton for rotational movement upon reciprocal movement of the pushbutton, a coupling member slidably mounted on the cam means for rotational movement therewith and radial sliding movement independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the 

1. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for moving the detent means to released position, coupling means located within the door handle assembly for selectively coupling and uncoupling the detent control means and the push button, and means remote from the door handle assembly and operatively connected to the coupling means for actuation thereof.
 2. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally movable push button, the improvement comprising, detent control means rotatably mounted within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for moving the detent means to released position, means within the door handle assembly converting the reciprocal pushbutton motion to rotary motion, and means located within the door handle assembly for selectively coupling the detent control means and the motion converting means.
 3. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, means located within the door handle assembly for selectively coupling the detent control means and the pushbutton to move the detent means to released position upon movement of the pushbutton, and means located within the door handle assembly for selectively uncoupling the detent control means and the pushbutton upon movement of the detent control means by the detent means.
 4. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, movable coupling means located within the door handle assembly, means operatively connecting the coupling means to the pushbutton for movement therewith and movement independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent control means, the detent control means and coupling means being movable as a unit upon movement of the coupling means in coupled position by the pushbutton.
 5. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, movable coupling means located within the door handle assembly, means operatively connecting the coupling means to the pushbutton for movement of the coupling means upon movement of the pushbutton and movement of the coupling means between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent control means independently of movement of the pushbutton, and cooperating means on the detent control means and coupling means engageable with each other upon movement of the coupling means in coupled position by the pushbutton to move the control means with the coupling means and move the detent means to released position.
 6. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means rotatably located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, means rotatably mounted within the door handle assembly and operatively connected to the pushbutton for rotational movement upon reciprocal movement of the pushbutton, coupling means located within the door handle assembly, means mounting the coupling means on the rotatable means for rotational movement therewith and radial movement independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent control means, and cooperatiNg means on the detent control means and coupling means engageable with each other upon rotational movement of the coupling means in coupled position by the pushbutton to rotate the control means and move the detent means to detented position.
 7. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means rotatably located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, means rotatably mounted within the door handle assembly and operatively connected to the pushbutton for rotational movement upon reciprocal movement of the pushbutton, coupling means located within the door handle assembly, means mounting the coupling means on the rotatable means for rotational movement therewith and radial shifting movement independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent control means, shifting means for moving the coupling means between coupled and uncoupled positions and radially locating the coupling means on the rotatable means, and cooperating means on the detent control means and coupling means engageable with each other upon rotational movement of the coupling means in coupled position by the pushbutton to rotate the control means and move the detent means to detented position.
 8. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable between holding and released positions with respect to the latch means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, a shaft rotatably mounted within the handle detent control means secured to the shaft and operatively connected to the detent means for movement therewith, cam means rotatably mounted on the shaft and engageable by the pushbutton for rotational movement upon reciprocal movement of the pushbutton, a coupling member slidably mounted on the cam means for rotational movement therewith and radial sliding movement independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent control means, shift lever means swingably mounted on the handle eccentrically of the shaft and radially locating the coupling member with respect to the cam means, and cooperating means on the detent control means and coupling member engageable with each other upon rotational movement of the coupling member in coupled position by the cam means to rotate the control means and move the detent means to detented position. 